Time-controlled switch for x-ray and other machines.



H. F. WAlTE.

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR X'RAY AND OTHER MACHINES, APPLXCATION FILEDNOV. 4. I9l6.

1,235,261. Patented Ju1y31,1917.

8 mnmtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. WAITE, 0F WHITESTONE LANDING, NEW YORK.

TIME-CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR X-R-AY AND OTHER MACHINE-S.

Application filed November 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. WAITE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of WVhitestone Landing, county of Queens, city and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Time- ControlledSwitches for X-Ray and other Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch of this class whichmay be used so as to open a circuit at a predetermined time after it isclosed. This, and other objects, are accomplished by my invention, oneembodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For a more particular description of my invention, reference is to behad to the ac companying drawings, in which appears a diagrammatic viewof my improved switch.

This improved switch may be used with either a direct or an alternatingcurrent system, although it is shown connected to a direct current.Assuming that the two poles or bus bars of the system are designated bythe characters 1 and 2, the parts and circuits may be determined asfollows: Beginning with the pole 1 a circuit may be traced through awire 3, solenoid 4, wire 5, switch 6 and wire 7 back to the pole 2.Again starting with the pole 1 a second circuit may be traced through awire 8 which runs to a spring 9 which may engage an adjustable screw 10,and does engage the same unless forced away therefrom by a means whichwill be described below. The screw 10 is connected by a wire 11 to asolenoid 12 which also has a wire 13 which runs to the wire 5 or thesame pole of the switch 6 that the wire 5 runs to, so that when theswitch 6 is closed the circuit is completed through this switch and thewire 7 to the pole or bus bar 2.

Yet a third circuit through an X-ray machine or other device 14 may betraced from this machine through a pole 15, wire 16, contact 17,armature 18, second contact 19, wire 20 and pole 21. In this circuit thearmature 18 is separated from the contacts 17 and 19 unless the magnet12 is energized so as to raise its core 22, to which the armature 18Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Serial No. 129,429.

is secured, and thereby close the circuit. If the magnet 12 is notenergized the armature 18 rests on a suitable support 23, or any othersuitable means, and away from the contacts 17 and 19.

The solenoid 4 is provided with a suitable core 24 which has a lever 25pivotally connected at its lower end. This lever is normally held inplace by a suitable spring 26 which is connected, as indicated, so as toraise the core 24. The lever 25 is extended to a suitable scale 27, andan adjusting screw 28 is provided at its other end so that the distancewhich the spring 26 can raise the lever 25 is indicated by the scale 27and limited by the screw 28. The position of the core 24 is determinedby the screw 28 when the apparatus is not in use, and when the magnet 4is energized this core is drawn into the middle of the solenoid in theconventional manner, and thereby lowered against the tension of thespring 26, and the distance which it is lowered will depend upon theinitial position of the core 24, which initial position depends upon theadjustment of the screw 28. This is important because of the mechanismwhich will now be described.

Immediately above the core 24, and normally resting thereon, is a piston29 which slides with a close but not a tight fit in a cylinder 30. Thebottom of the cylinder 30 is so placed that the piston 29 may rest onthe spring 9 and force the same against a stop 31 and awayfrom the screw10 and thereby open the circuit through the wire 11 and solenoid 12.When the piston 29 is raised by the core 24, the spring 9 is releasedand then the circuit is complete through the parts 9 and 10, as they arein engagement. Of course the circuit may be broken through the switch 6,as above described, but this is another matter. The upper end of thecylinder 30 is closed by a suitable cylinder head 32 which has a centralstem 33 with a vent opening or port 34 controlled by a needle valve 35so that there may be a slight leakage of air into the upper portion ofthe cyl inder 3 and above the piston 29, according to the size of theopening about the stem of the needle valve 35. To facilitate the vation,and the plunger 29 rests on the core switch 6 must be kept closed untilthe piston .said circuit, a core drawn downwardly into regulating ofthis valve 35 it is provided by said core when the solenoid is notenerwith a suitable spring 36 adapted to enter gized, and means forpermitting a gradual corresponding recesses 37 on the edge of thelowering of the piston when the core is cylinder head 82 so that thisvalve may be withdrawn into the solenoid. held securely at anypredetermined position 2. In a system of the class described, two andeasily shifted from one position to an circuits and a common switch forclosing other, as desired. As the leakage through both of them, twosolenoids, one in each cirthe valve 35 and port 34L is very smallincuit, and a core in each solenoid, a third cirdeed, this matter has tobe carefully adcuit adapted to be closed by the action of justed. -oneof these cores, a switch in the circuit of the solenoid of the lastmentioned core, and time controlled means connected to the other In viewof the foregoing, the operation solenoid for opening this last mentionedof my improved switch will be readily unswitch after a predeterminedtime has derstood. Assuming that the screw 28 is elapsed after theclosing of the last menset so as to give the core 2 1 the desiredeletioned switch.

. '3. In a system of the class described, a 24, it is obvious that whenthe core 2& is solenoid with a core with connections for withdrawn bythe action of the magnet 4, closing a circuit, a second solenoid with awhich is energized as above described, when core adapted to support apiston above the the switch 6 is closed, then, the plunger or same,means for permitting said piston to piston 29 begins to fall, but itcannot fall fall gradually after the core is withdrawn, rapidly becauseof the slow admission of air means for opening a circuit through thefirst through the needle valve 35. Therefore the mentioned solenoid bythe piston when it speed at which the plunger 29 falls is deterhasreached a predetermined point. mined y e ne dle valve 35 and may be 4.In a system of the class described, a varied by varying the openingthrough this solenoid and meansfor energizing the same,

Operation.

valve. The switch 6 is kept closed until the a core for said solenoid, alever connected plunger 29 rests upon the spring 9 and with said core,means for elevating said opens the circuit at the screws 10 and springcore, means for limiting the amount of ele- 9. It is obvious also thatthe Circ i 1 vation of said core, a piston and a cylinder closed at thispoint as long as the plunger 29 in which said piston slides, said pistonbeing is ofi the spring 9, that is as long as the mounted above saidcore and being adapted switchfiis closed the circuit is closed throughto be supported thereby when the same is the magnet or solenoid 12 andremains raised, means for regulating the amount of closed until thepiston 29 rests on the spring air which may be admitted above said pis-9, as above set forth. This permits the core ton, so as to determine thetime of fall of 22 to be raised so that the armature 18 is the sameafter the piston is withdrawn, a

against the contacts 17 and 19 and thus the second circuit and means foropening the apparatus lt is permitted to operate during same connectedto said piston when the same a predetermined time and no more. The islowered.

5. In a system of the class. described, two 29 is on the spring 9,because if it is not kept circuits each of which is provided with aclosed as long as that, the time the circuit solenoid, one solenoidhaving a core conthrough the wire 11 and solenoid 12 is closed nected tocircuit closing means, so that when will not be determined by theapparatus. the solenoid is energized, a circuit is closed, WVhen theswitch is opened the apparatus is a core in the other solenoid and apiston ready for another operation because the above the same, means forguiding said pisspring 26 restores the core 24: and connected ton, meansfor regulating the amount of air parts to their initial positions. thatmay be admitted above said piston so as While I have shown and describedone to determine its time of fall when the core embodiment of myinvention, it is obvious is withdrawn from below the same, means that itis not restricted thereto but is broad for closing a circuit throughsaid solenoids enough to cover all structures that come simultaneously,and means connected with within the scope of the annexed claims. saidsystem for opening the circuit through Having thus described myinvention, what the solenoid containing the contact making I claim is:device, so that the circuit may be closed means for closing a circuit, asolenoid in ously, and opened through one of them after a predeterminedtime.

said solenoid when it is energized, means 6. In a system of the classdescribed, a for ejecting the core from said solenoid solenoid and meansfor closing the circuit to when the solenoid is not energized, a pistonthe same, a core for said solenoid, a lever above the core and adaptedto be supported connected to said core, a spring for raising v1. In aswitch of the class described, through both of said solenoidssimultaneabove said piston so that the same may fall slowly after thepiston is Withdrawn, the

speed of movement of the piston being determined by the amount of airadmitted above the same in said cylinder.

HARRY F. WAITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

